Dumping mechanism for harvesting-machines.



No. 887,343. PATENTED MAY 12,1908.

J. A. MONEAL.

DUMPING MECHANISM FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18', 190

7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

anuzmfop No. 887,343. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

- J. A. MoNEAL.

DUMPING MECHANISM FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

A PLIOA X 1'1 D 1' H0 LE MAY 18, 1907 3 sEEETS sHEET 2 Wanna I 71 H,

No. 887,343. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

fir. A. Mc NEAL. DUMPING MECHANISM FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JOHN A. MeNEAL, OF GHURUBUSCO, INDIANA. DUMPING MECHANISM FOR HARVESTING-MACHINES.

No. 887,843. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908. Application filed May 16, 1907. Serial No. 378,888. i

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN A. MON EAL, a

the angle plates N, citizen of the United States, residing t e sprocket chain Iounted underneath the upper end of the conveyer are the two shaking screensO and O which screens are of different lengths, the upper screen having preferably the larger the smaller onions may over which the fingers of anism for HarvestingMachmes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to an one screen being longer than the other which it appertains to make and use same, in order to deposit the lar er onions into a reference being had to the accompanym crate R, while the smaller onions are allowed rawings and to the letters and fi ures of1efto fall into the crate R 1e screens are erence marked the1 eon, which form a part of suspended by the links 0 which are pivoted this specification. to upright portions of the frame and are is invention relates to new and useful vibrated by means of an eccentric O which improvements in onion harvesters and the is fixed to the shaft E shown clearly in Fig. object in view is to produce a simple and ef- 2 of the drawings, and O designates an ecficient apparatus of ti is nature so arranged centric rod which is connected to a strap that passing about said eccentric and is-pivotally connected to the under side of the screen 0, as shown clearly Said crates, when mg platforms, when a certain quantity onions, are mounted upon the welghmg plat- 5 of onions accumulate within a crate they are forms each of which is pivotally connected automatically weighed and delivered to one at Q at one end and 1ts other end supported side of the apparatus. by an arm Q which is pivotally connected My invention comprises various details of to the weighing arm combinations and arrange Q upon which the balance Q is mounted.

Said weighing arm Q ments of pal ts which Wlll be hereinafter full is pivotally mounted upon a bracket arm Q described and then specifically defined 1n the and is graduated, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 appended claims. of the drawings.-

I illustrate my invention in the accom- Q desi nates an inclined rack having rollpanying drawings, in which rers Q, as as also the platform Q, so that the Figure 1 is a side elevation of my onion crates may move with as little friction as harvester, the chutes of the apparatus being possible. Said inclined rack Q is supported removed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 by the brackets Q and is adapted to hold the is a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of empty crates in readiness to take the place Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of those which have been filled. showing the dumping feature of the appa- At the lower end of the side delivery chute ratus. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on G which latter is rovided with anti-fricline 7-7 of Fig. 4. tion rollers, is a de ivery rackT pivotally Reference now being had to the details of connected at its forward end, as at T, to the drawings by letter, A designates a frame the frame of the apparatus, and is normally 5 of a harvestin machine, in connection with held in a horizontal position by means of a spring T T designates a latch, the free end of which is adapted to engage over the lower end of the side delivery chute for the purpose of su porting the free ends of the tines T of said delivery rack to en port the same, and to the outer end of the I is pivotally connected a lever T which is pivoted at T to a projection upon the rack.

T is a pin which is pivotally connected to the lever T and has a head T between which B thereon, which conveyer passes over sprocket wheels C and D 0 and is driven by belted connections E and F with the driving axle of the apparatus.

In the drawings, I have shown rollers H set gear connection w1th the apparatus which drives the endless conveyor, and between the rollers are being raised by and the bracket T through which the pin passes, a spring T bears, said spring and pin serving as a buffer to break the force of the crate as it slides down the delivery chute upon the rack. A roller W is mounted upon 1 the rack and upon which the crate is adapted to rest and affording means to facilitate the dropping of the crate when the rack is tilted at an inclination.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings will be seen a platform V projecting from the frame and upon which an operator may stand, if desired, to be convenient in placing the crates upon the rack Q.

The operation of my apparatus will be readily understood and is as follows. The machine being driven over one or more rows of onions, the points L will scoop up the onions from the ground with their tops clinging thereto, and these being caught by the fingers G willbe elevated onto the rollers which are rotated in pairs toward each other. As the tops of the onions are caught between the rollers and the onions at the same time said fingers, the tops will be severed from the onions, and any dirt or other foreign matter which may be elevated by the onions will pass between the rollers, and any onions which may come upon the angle plates intermediate the pairs of rollers will be moved by the fingers w iich pass over said plates either to one side or the other and caused to fall upon the rollers, and as the latter are rotating toward each other, the

- tops thereof Wlll be drawn between the rollers and severed. The onions arriving at the upper ends of the rollers will drop upon the screens where they are separated, the smaller onions passing through the mesh of the upper screen, and as the screens are 'brated and set at inclinations, the onions will fall into their respective crates positioned upon the weighing platforms underneath the free ends of the screens. As a certain quantity of onions fall into a crate, the weighted platform will tilt at an inclination and the filled crate, the weight of which is predetermined by the placing of the weight upon the balancing arm Q will slide down the chute C and coming in contact with the buffer, the latch will be released and the weight of the crate overcoming the spring which normally holds the rack T in a horizontal osition, will cause the crate to tilt down to t 1e ground. After the weight of the crate is released from the rack, the spring T will return the rack to its normal position. As a crate slides from the platform, an empty one positioned adjacent to the one being filled will slide down the inclined rack and be positioned underneath the screens.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a l chute leading therefrom,

simple and efficient apparatus is afforded, whereby onions may be pulled from the ground, elevated, the tops severed therefrom, screened, crated, weighed and delivered to the ground at one side of the apparatus, the entire operation being automatic as the machine travels over the field.

That I claim is 1. In combination with a harvesting app aratus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a chute leading therefrom, a delivery rack at the end of the chute, and means for tilting said delivery rack, as set forth.

2. In combination with a harvesting apparatus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a chute leading therefrom, a delivery rack normally held in a horizontal position below the lower end of the chute, and means for re- 1 leasing said rack to allow it to tilt as a receptacle is delivered thereon, as set forth.

3. In combination with a harvesting apparatus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a

' chute leading therefrom, a delivery rack normally held in a horizontal position below the lower end of the chute, means for releasing said rack to allow it to tilt as a receptacle is delivered thereon, and means for returning the rack to a horizontal position, as set forth.

4. In combination with a harvesting apparatus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a a delivery rack at the lower end of the chute upon which a receptacle is adapted to be delivered, and a spring-pressed latch for normally holding the delivery rack in a horizontal position, as set forth.

5. In combination with a harvesting apparatus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a chute leading therefrom, a delivery rack at the lower end of the chute upon which a receptacle is adapted to be delivered, a springpressed latch for normally holding the delivery rack in a horizontal position, and a buffer mounted upon the delivery rack, as set forth.

6. In combination with a harvesting apparatus, a counter-balanced tilting platform, a chute leading therefrom, a delivery rack at the lower end of the chute upon which a receptacle is adapted to be delivered, a spring pressed latch for normally holding the delivery rack in a horizontal position, a springactuated buffer upon the rack, and connections between said buffer and latch, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. MONEAL.

WVitnesses:

G. W. KIOHLER, CHARLOTTE AUMAN. 

